Nicks limited by injury

Starting receiver suffered broken foot at minicamp

By James Allen

Published 10:59 pm, Sunday, July 29, 2012

Fans watch from behind a fence during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Fans watch from behind a fence during practice at New York Giants...

Chase Blackburn runs through a drill during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Chase Blackburn runs through a drill during practice at New York...

Chase Blackburn runs through a drill during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Chase Blackburn runs through a drill during practice at New York...

Fans watch from behind a fence during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Fans watch from behind a fence during practice at New York Giants...

Head coach Tom Coughlin looks on as players stretch out during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Head coach Tom Coughlin looks on as players stretch out during...

Henry Hynoski runs through drills during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Henry Hynoski runs through drills during practice at New York...

Eli Manning reaches down to grad the ball after he missed a snap during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Eli Manning reaches down to grad the ball after he missed a snap...

Eli Manning catches a snap as he ran through drills during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Eli Manning catches a snap as he ran through drills during practice...

Hakeem Nicks walks across a field as he worked out during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Hakeem Nicks walks across a field as he worked out during practice...

Hakeem Nicks uses a band to stretch out as he worked out during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Hakeem Nicks uses a band to stretch out as he worked out during...

Will Beatty, right, runs through a drill with teammate Matt McCants during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Will Beatty, right, runs through a drill with teammate Matt McCants...

Will Beatty runs through a drill during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Will Beatty runs through a drill during practice at New York...

Andre Brown, left, reaches up to catch a pass as teammate Spencer Paysinger plays defense during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Andre Brown, left, reaches up to catch a pass as teammate Spencer...

D.J. Ware catches a pass during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

D.J. Ware catches a pass during practice at New York Giants...

Henry Hunoski, left, looks for a pass as teammate Spencer Paysinger plays defense during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Hakeem Nicks tosses a football as he watched teammates practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Hakeem Nicks tosses a football as he watched teammates practice at...

Running back David Wilson carries the ball through a hole during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Running back David Wilson carries the ball through a hole during...

Running back Andre Brown hits the ground after being tripped up during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Running back Andre Brown hits the ground after being tripped up...

Running back David Wilson carries the ball as he tries to evade a teammate during practice at New York Giants training camp at the University at Albany on Sunday, July 29, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

ALBANY — Playing the waiting game is not how starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks envisioned his time at New York Giants training camp. But the fourth-year pro out of North Carolina knows that letting the foot fracture he suffered at minicamp in May heal properly is more prudent than running pass routes.

"I'm just sticking to the plan the doctors and trainers have for me," Nicks said before Sunday's afternoon practice.

Nicks has done some sprints on the sidelines, but he has yet to be allowed to make cuts. He said he is on schedule to return in mid-August, which likely means Nicks won't be taking the field during the team's stay at UAlbany that ends on the 14th.

"I definitely want to be out there, but you have to be smart about it," Nicks said.

Although he is limited to watching, Nicks likes what he is seeing from the other wide receivers.

"I think we are a very talented group. I think we can go out there and do the same thing, if not better, than last year," Nicks said.

Defensive end Justin Trattou, who performed well Friday and early Saturday, came to breakfast Sunday wearing a walking boot to protect his left ankle. Trattou and Coughlin said MRI results were pending Sunday evening.

Running back Da'Rel Scott sat out his second day with an ankle injury.

Definitely an outsider: Greg Jones played middle linebacker during his rookie season with the Giants in 2011. The sixth-round selection out of Michigan State, who fans might remember proposed to his girlfriend after the team's Super Bowl victory against New England, has been shifted to outside linebacker this season.

The move appears to be agreeing with Jones.

"He's practiced well for a couple of days," head coach Tom Coughlin said. "Ever since camp opened, he's practiced well, he's run well. He appears to be around the ball."

Wheatley watches: Tyrone Wheatley, who spent the first four years of his 10-year NFL career with the Giants, watched Sunday's practice with his sons.

Wheatley played with the Giants from 1995-98 before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders. He rushed for 4,962 yards and is now the running backs coach at Syracuse.